September 30, 2010

Though I didn't even get an entire row of my hoodie knit waiting for my hair cut yesterday (I swear she was early!), I realized I had gotten more like 3 inches done when I had started it, not just 2".

The hoodie is a top-down sweater pattern and I have to tell you how much I love top-down sweaters. Who ever thought of top-down should be a millionare, because seriously, being able to try on the sweater as you go is the most magical thing in the whole world. (For those of you who have shared their fear of tackling a sweater because of fit issues, this basically takes that whole thing of fit out entirely. Every top-down sweater I have ever knit has fit perfectly, since I can make sure it is fitting as I knit it.)

That being said, there is something that seriously messes with my head about top-down sweater knitting. I don't know what the heck it is, but when I am knitting a top down sweater, I feel like I am going against the laws of nature or something. Crazy but true. Does anyone else have this same issue?

The really funny part is I really despise toe-up socks. I finished these recently (which I haven't shared since I need to find some leopard print ribbon for my garters), and re-affirmed my dislike of toe-up. I think a big part is I have high arches and the foot on toe-up socks doesn't seem to fit as well or as snug or something. But a bigger part is again I feel like going toe-up is against the immutable laws of nature and cuff down is the only way to go. Sigh.

I can't be the only one who feels this way, right?

So there you go. A peak into my mind. No wonder there haven't been too many blog posts recently, sharing this neurosis of mine makes me sound like a giant nut. Maybe it is best when I keep my mouth shut (my mother would certainly agree with that!).

September 29, 2010

So I finished the eternity sweater. It, ahem, is what I am calling "not flattering on my body-type," which is just an easier way of saying a huge friggin' disaster. I mean, it really is not the pattern or the sweater's fault, it really just looks worse on me than any other item of clothing I have every tried on.

You might think I am kidding, or over-exaggerating, or being sensitive, but let me guarantee you, I am not. Mr Danger, bless his heart, is always sweet and says things like,"Oh honey, it doesn't look that bad," or, "Well, I kinda like it! I don't think it makes you look like (insert whatever witty analogy I have come up with to describe a bad piece of clothing, generally making reference to a water buffalo)," or, "Well, if you are not comfortable in it, at least it will make a great sweater to wear at home." Never has he said a bad word about any item of clothing, especially hand knit. Never.

Not the eternity sweater. Nope. I put it on to show him what I was talking about (after working up the courage to be seen in it after several days) and the first thing out of his mouth was, "Oh." Yes, my salesman of a husband, who always has a positive thing to say in every situation, who always know the right words to make me feel better, who's job it is to talk people into things, was at a loss for words. Not good.

So the eternity sweater has been folded up and jammed in the closet since I can't bear to look at it. I mean, the one sweater I have done recently that a) took me, a quick knitter, about a month to do b) that I could not try on as I went and c) I was ever so excited about is a complete disaster. Complete and utter. And you know the worst part? Every one of the Ravelry projects of it I look at looks AMAZING on their knitters, something that encouraged me to keep knitting as I was working on it since I knew if I could just get through it I would have the most incredible sweater in the whole world. Sigh.

THIS I am very excited about. Since I live in my sweatshirt, and for some reason I only have one, I was talking to the girls at my knit night about what a good idea it would be to knit myself a hoodie. So, one awesome pattern later, I have about 2 inches it done. I am doing it in a lovely bright red, and I know this one will be the incredible sweater I was hoping for. A great pattern too! You should check it out if you are looking for a hoodie. I love how it is laid out and everything has been super clear in the 2 inches I've knit. Chicknits has other cool patterns too, of which I have already got my eye on a second one if this one goes well.

The sad thing about the hoodie is that as soon as I started it I put it down and have been doing work knitting non-stop since. I am taking a train down to Portland next weekend, but had already picked a train project, so it looks like I might not get any knitting in on it until November or December at this point. At least it is started, right?! The start at least soothed my damaged ego, so in the end it is a good thing, I think.

I am off to a busy day of running errands and getting my hair cut. I love hair cut day, it is so nice to just sit with nothing to do for a couple hours. Actually, the work knitting I have right now needs to be photographed as I go.....maybe I will get another 1/4" or so done on my hoodie as I wait. I hope she's running behind today!

September 15, 2010

Though I have put my needles down for the moment on this particular project (since I have been distracted by actual work knitting), I am currently working on this:

It is the Stitch Diva Studios Endless Knitted Cardi Shawl. What a cool pattern, have you seen it before? I am so excited to be making a knitted clothing item that has so many options for wear once it is done. And the pattern is really unique and interesting in its construction.

I am doing it in Araucania Ranco, not exactly the recommended yarn, but I think it will come out cool anyway, or more specifically in its own way.

Apparently I have had my eye out for every slow moving pattern I can find recently. The Wispy Cardi I mentioned was on like size 5 needles with a lace yarn and felt like it took an eternity. That was until the real eternity set in with this sweater. Moving back and forth across rows with 400 stitches can really start to get the better of me. Which would be a big part why I set this down and have been working a on new pattern I will be putting out next month (this is that themey pattern I had mentioned before). But, I think I just have one more repeat of the center pattern on the Cardi Shawl and then I am on to the edging, so not a whole lot more left. Amazing how when you break it up with a little more instant-gratification project it makes the eternity project so much more manageable!

It has been really nice this year to let myself play around with other people's patterns and actually knit some things for myself. It seems like my closet is starting to have a larger and larger handknits section, something I have always wanted!

September 13, 2010

I am so proud of myself since I, like most of you I am sure, HATE blocking. It is not even that I hate it really, I have Soak, handy blocking blocks, lace blocking wires, and any number of other things that make it so much easier and really a breeze to do. You know what I think it is? I have to clean the sink and clean off my dining room table in order to do any blocking, and that makes it all seem like a much bigger deal than it really is. Sad. Sad but true.

So you can imagine how proud of myself I was when I managed to get not one but TWO recent projects blocked at the same time:

I loved both of these patterns. I did the Little Colonnade in the Noro Lace yarn, and it came out so cool with the stripes of color. I must say I really liked this Noro. I am not a huge Noro fan since yes, I agree the colors are gorgeous. I just always feel like there are one or two colors in every colorway that I personally don't think belong in there. But hey, I am like that, and hey I LOVE how this turned out, so there goes my theory.

The Wispy Cardi is a really, really cool pattern. It is a basic shrug that you then pick up stitches around and work down from to make a sweater. Cool concept, huh? I loved knitting it, it turned out looking just like the pattern, the only problem is I haven't worn it yet. I love how it feels on (I used knit picks Shadow Tonal Lace, if you are wondering) and everything about it, I just feel like I am a little too busty for it to look right on me. I understand it is a "barely there" kinda cardigan, but with my chest I feel like it doesn't look like I am wearing a sweater from the front and then pow! It's all yellow on my back. I think I will get over it, but for now it makes a great around the house sweater.

I told you I had been getting lots of knitting done around here! This is just the start, too. And if you were wondering, I would highly recommend both of these patterns (seems like a rarity for me, I always seem to get cranky with patterns!). Like you were looking for another project......

September 07, 2010

Hello all! Nothing like getting a big ol' box of yarn in the mail to remind you that you have not been giving your blog or your business the attention it so sorely deserves! I got more yarn from Lorna's Laces in for Iris kits, including a new color:

I couldn't resist the "Robot Overlord" color. I mean seriously, any yarn called "Robot Overlord" must immediately be mine. I love it too, it is the perfect fall color and knit up a great monster.

This was the NINTH (!) Iris sample I have knit! The 4 in the pattern live at Lorna's Laces, but I have knit 5 more for samples for the kits in my etsy shop. I couldn't help but take a picture of the 4 DK sized ones together:

Fun, huh? I love this monster.

So there has been a lot going on here, which I plan to update you on in the next few weeks. I just don't seem to be managing to get my butt onto the computer much these days, or really doing any business knitting, but I do have lots of fun and exciting things to share with you anyway. And, I am feeling very inspired and am starting on a new pattern today, one for October with a theme......